One of the most
welcome and important aspects of practicing and studying the Buddhist
teachings is that we begin to trust our mind and discover the inherent
goodness in it. The result is feeling cheerful.

Most of us
think of cheerfulness as a mood that shows up in our life for random
reasons—a nice day, a birthday party, or the simple pleasure of being with
friends. Certainly our culture encourages us to put on a cheerful face. It
may sometimes feel like we are forcing it, which nobody likes. Because it
isn’t genuine, this kind of cheerfulness is difficult to maintain, as if
we’re covering up a deep wound.

Under such
conditions, and because our moods change constantly, we might not
understand that cheerfulness is in fact an inherent quality of mind.
Within the meditative tradition, cheerfulness is considered to be the
natural, harmonious, and wholesome expression of our truest self.

Cheerfulness
comes naturally with meditation. It is a quality of space created within
the mind. When there’s space in the mind, the mind relaxes, and we feel a
simple sense of delight. We experience the possibility of living a life in
which we aren’t continuously bombarded by emotions, discursiveness, and
concepts about the nature of things.

On the path
of meditation we take into account the harshness of life—and perpetually
temper that with cheerfulness—not out of ignorance, but out of wisdom.
Contemplating the truth of pain and suffering does not lead to depression.
Rather, it helps us appreciate what we have, which is buddha-nature. All
of us are naturally buddha, “awake.” Knowing that we are all
naturally awake brings delight.

In dark
times like these when we feel even more burdened and insecure, we should
be contemplating our true nature more than ever. It can cheer us up on any
day. Despite all the ups and downs of our life, we are fundamentally awake
individuals who have a natural ability to become compassionate and wise.
Our nature is to be cheerful. This cheerfulness is deeper than temporary
conditions. The day does not have to be sunny for us to be cheerful.

When we
practice meditation, we are encouraging this natural state of
cheerfulness. We don’t have to regard meditating as a somber activity. We
are using a technique to build clarity, strength, and flexibility of mind.
In training our mind to pliability and power, we’re learning to relax, to
loosen up, so that we can change our attitude on a dime. Strength of mind
and pliancy are the causes and result of cheerfulness.

The reality
is that underneath all the flickers of desire and all the dreams we use in
order to fool ourselves into seeking temporary forms of happiness, our
mind is clear and cheerful. We can delight in just sitting there doing
nothing. Going for a walk or eating a piece of fruit can be fulfilling
experiences. We do not need to prove our cheerfulness again and again; it
arises simply and naturally. We’re happy to be alive. Having more money or
more food is never going to replace that basic sense of delight. It isn’t
what we possess—it’s what we enjoy.

The
experience of genuine cheerfulness is free from fixation and attachment.
We are free of having to depend on something else to make us happy. We can
bask freely in the natural radiance of our mind. This is the equanimity of
true cheerfulness—nothing more, nothing less.